Brady eager to see new-look Pats open at Bills

FILE - In this April 11, 2013 file photo, Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, in Seattle. After an offseason of magazine covers and memorable TV appearances, the Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback is ready for the regular season to begin. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2013 file photo, Buffalo Bills quarterback E J Manuel looks to pass downfield during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Orchard Park, N.Y. Bills coach Doug Marrone says rookie quarterback Manuel will be his starter in opening the season against New England on Sunday. Marrone made the announcement in a one-sentence release issued by the team Wednesday morning, Sept. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2013 file photo, Buffalo Bills quarterback E J Manuel looks to pass downfield during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Orchard Park, N.Y. Bills coach Doug Marrone says rookie quarterback Manuel will be his starter in opening the season against New England on Sunday. Marrone made the announcement in a one-sentence release issued by the team Wednesday morning, Sept. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert, File)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a ball during stretching exercises before practice at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday Sept. 4, 2013. The Patriots open their regular season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Buffalo, N.Y. Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda announces that a 21-year-old Buffalo man was charged with killing 13-year-old Lanasha Rollerson, as Mayor Byron Brown, left, and Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards, look on, at a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013 in Buffalo. Derenda says that Darshawn Morris is charged with second-degree murder and has confessed to killing Rollerson after a party early Sunday morning. Police arrested Morris Wednesday night at Erie County Medical Center. Derenda wouldn't say why Morris was at the Buffalo hospital. Authorities say Morris is married and lives at the house where the party took place. Police say the party broke up around 2 a.m. and Lanasha was killed between 3 and 4 a.m. Her body was found late Tuesday. Officials say the girl's parents didn't know she had left their home. (AP Photo/The Buffalo News, John Hickey)

Buffalo, N.Y. Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda announces that a 21-year-old Buffalo man was charged with killing 13-year-old Lanasha Rollerson, as Mayor Byron Brown, left, and Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards, look on, at a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013 in Buffalo. Derenda says that Darshawn Morris is charged with second-degree murder and has confessed to killing Rollerson after a party early Sunday morning. Police arrested Morris Wednesday night at Erie County Medical Center. Derenda wouldn't say why Morris was at the Buffalo hospital. Authorities say Morris is married and lives at the house where the party took place. Police say the party broke up around 2 a.m. and Lanasha was killed between 3 and 4 a.m. Her body was found late Tuesday. Officials say the girl's parents didn't know she had left their home. (AP Photo/The Buffalo News, John Hickey)

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, SEPT. 7-8 - FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2013, file photo, Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone watches during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Redskins in Landover, Md. The Bills rookie coach is already dealing with the familiar adversity that comes with rebuilding a team from the ground up. He is unfazed, having grown accustomed to the challenges that come with extreme makeovers at his previous two stops. He was an assistant on Sean Payton's staff in New Orleans, then coach at Syracuse, where he brought respectability to a once-woeful program. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski, File)

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick listens to a reporter's question during a media availability at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday Sept. 4, 2013. The Patriots open their regular season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Tom Brady is as curious as anyone in wanting to see the New England Patriots unveil their new-look group of receivers at Buffalo today.

“There are always challenges to really determine what kind of team you’re going to be like,” Brady said. “The mental toughness, the work ethic, the core principles and fundamentals of the game have not been tested under game conditions.

“That’s what it’s all about,” the quarterback added. “We all are excited to see where we’re at.”

The Patriots are coming off a tumultuous offseason that left numerous holes in the NFL’s top-ranked offense last year. And that’s not including New England’s brief flirtation with Tim Tebow, who was cut last weekend.

Many of Brady’s familiar security blankets are gone (Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez) or injured (tight end Rob Gronkowski). The four accounted for 3,548 yards receiving and 26 touchdowns last year.

In their place is a group of newcomers led by free agent Danny Amendola.

The Bills have a brand new look to them, too, after an offseason overhaul – the latest in the team’s bid to become relevant again after missing the playoffs for 13 straight years.

Doug Marrone is the new coach, and he’s brought in an up-tempo philosophy on offense, led by first-round pick EJ Manuel at quarterback.

“I’d be lying if I’m sitting here saying I don’t expect him to do great things,” Marrone said.

Here are five things to look out for from the game:

Brady at the helm

For all the changes the Patriots went through, they’re still led by Brady, who enters his 14th season. And when it comes to facing the Bills, Brady has been nearly unbeatable since taking over in 2001.

Over that span, Brady has a 20-2 record against Buffalo, during which he’s thrown 51 of his 334 career touchdowns.

“Same old, same old,” Bills veteran defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. “Everything is going to revolve around No. 12 (Brady) and what he does. ... We know affecting him is the best way to beat this team.”

EJ’s debut

Manuel will become the Bills’ first rookie quarterback to start Week 1 directly out of college since Joe Ferguson in 1973.

Selected 16th overall out of Florida State, Manuel was the only quarterback drafted in the first round. The strong-armed and mobile player showed encouraging signs through training camp before hurting his left knee in a 20-16 preseason win over Minnesota on Aug. 16.

Manuel returned to practice last Sunday after missing two weeks.

“I definitely feel like I’m caught back up,” he said. “I wouldn’t play the game if I didn’t feel like I was ready to go.

Banged-up Bills

Though Manuel’s healthy, the Bills have dealt with a string of setbacks over the past two weeks.

Top cornerback Stephon Gilmore (broken wrist) is out. Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd’s status is uncertain. He’s bothered by a sore foot and also missed nearly the entire offseason before signing his franchise tender two weeks ago. Buffalo even had to scramble to sign kicker Dan Carpenter this week after rookie Dustin Hopkins strained his groin in practice Monday.

Learning on the fly

The Patriots and Bills are both expecting much out of their young receivers. The Patriots feature three rookies: Josh Boyce, Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins.

The Bills are raw at the position, too, behind returning starter Stevie Johnson. Second-round pick Robert Woods and speedster Marquise Goodwin, a third-rounder, are being counted on along with second-year player T.J. Graham to make an immediate impact. Johnson isn’t worried. The ever-colorful receiver opened the week with a big boast.

The Bills will unveil a new-look defense under new coordinator Mike Pettine. Pettine has introduced an aggressive, attacking style that will lean heavily on star pass-rusher Mario Williams and newly acquired defensive end Jerry Hughes to disrupt the pocket.

Belichick and Brady are familiar with Pettine, who spent the previous four seasons in the same position with the Jets.

“This year, Buffalo looks like the Jets, schematically,” Belichick said. “Yes, blitz pickup will be definitely something we need to work on this week.”

The Patriots are hoping to add more pressure to their defense after finishing 17th in the NFL with 37 sacks last season. They signed free-agent defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. Defensive end Chandler Jones – who played under Marrone at Syracuse – is healthy after being bothered by an ankle injury last season.